HELLO I'M OBSESSED!! I'll have to go back and read Matt King's other books, because I haven't had enough of this world.
Wraith truly does function as HELLO I'M OBSESSED!! I'll have to go back and read Matt King's other books, because I haven't had enough of this world.
Wraith truly does function as a standalone, and everything you need to know is inside, but it makes you want to explore more and read about some of the other characters who were mentioned, at least in my case.
It's a very fast paced book which suited me perfectly, and there were no big info dumps. It did take a few pages for me to get used to the world, but other than that I had no trouble getting into the story.
And what a story it was!! Wraith has me in its clutches now, I can't stop thinking about it. It's exactly the kind of book I like, with people gaining powers from a mysterious element, and all the Chaos that comes with it. See what I did there? Hah.
I agree with the reviewer who said this was giving X-Men vibes, it 100% was!! And since I'm a huge fan of that, it's no wonder I loved this too.
Zoe was an amazing character, I'd follow her to the ends of the Earth if she asked. And I can't wait to see where she goes from here, the friends she makes etc.
Speaking of friends, Cedric was a hoot, probably my favourite character next to Zoe.
Now...there's Britt. I think their relationship was handled really well, and it felt realistic. I hated Britt every time she was on-page though, because I knew something unhinged was about to happen and/or she'd be trying to hurt Zoe.
Another villain had me completely fooled until the "switch", I was sitting there thinking "oh they're just a bit misguided"...how wrong I was. In general this book has so many twists, and I saw almost none of them coming.
One of the things I loved most about Wraith, were all the descriptions of different Chaotic abilities. Of course, we got the most detail about Zoe's, and I'm not even a tiny little bit confused about how hers work, it's all crystal clear.
I love that scene near the end that's in the water, so powerful. It might actually be my favourite scene in the whole book.
The ending leaves room for a sequel, and I'm curious how that's gonna go since all the books are standalones technically, but either way I'll be seated for more Zoe.
*Thank you to the author and BDA publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
“If all knights were as honourable as Elliot, then no children would ever die in war.”
EXCUSE ME, I AM IN PAIN BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK. What do you mean m“If all knights were as honourable as Elliot, then no children would ever die in war.”
EXCUSE ME, I AM IN PAIN BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK. What do you mean multiple intriguing characters met their end?? Nope, nope, I refuse to believe it. Everyone is fine and happy.
AGH. Those two in the last several chapters really got me, the first one was an absolute shock, I had to put the book down in disbelief. Then I went back to reread that section to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. IT'S SO UNFAIR!!
Then when the second one happened, I was almost expecting it, but was hoping that character would somehow make it. Unfortunately, that wasn't meant to be.
As hurt as I am, I still love that twist, everything seemed to finally be going in the right direction, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and then of course something terrible had to happen to ruin it, but I love the emotions it pulled out of me anyway.
I feel so bad for the ones who'll have to pick up the pieces, and try to defeat Walter once and for all with such big players removed from the board. They'll need all the luck in the world to pull it off.
Now, speaking generally, this was the best book in the series (so far). And you know how I feel about book one, but The Rise of the West took The Dance of Light to a whole different level with the stellar character development. I had a hard time tearing my eyes away from the pages, everything was simply enchanting.
Every single PoV was gripping in its own way, so it's kind of cruel we lost some we were getting to know even better (no, I will not get over it).
I found myself falling deeper in love with the world and its characters as I was reading, even the newly introduced ones like Rain and Marin. I hope we'll see more of them in the next book. I like Edmee too, even if she's a bit misguided.
Velhisya's PoV was the scariest / most anxiety-inducting to me, because of the situation she was in. I didn't want anything bad to happen to her, and was waiting for her to either rescue herself, or for someone to come and help her.
Relating to that, I miss her poor cellmate already, I'd like to think that they're in a better place now, free from judgement.
I also missed our favourite pirate, John, who spends the whole book away from his (remaining) friends, which is very inconvenient, considering the situations they found themselves in. But worry not, he's coming back to his senses, slowly.
I'd say this was more character heavy than plot heavy, but there's absolutely enough politics, betrayals & plot to go around. And it doesn't feel like a filler book, though the fight with Walter is eminent.
There's even a teeny tiny speck of romance, where Velhisya realises there's a bond with Elliot, and where Elliot realises she's the only one for him. It's only a matter of time before they can finally be together, and I can't wait to see it.
If you love series that progressively get darker, punch you in the feels, and are filled with adventures and wonder at every turn, PLEASE GIVE THE DANCE OF LIGHT A CHANCE!!! I've been obsessed since the first book and I know you will be too.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
A Goddess of old goes in search of sacrifices in order to stay on the mortal plane for another year.
The plot was interesting, the execution of it okaA Goddess of old goes in search of sacrifices in order to stay on the mortal plane for another year.
The plot was interesting, the execution of it okay, though I think it would've flowed better had it been longer than novella length, because I did kinda get tired of reading pretty much the same thing over and over again.
The Berserker chapter was my favourite, but I'm biased. Either way, that one felt fresh compared to all the others. I would give another book by this author a try in the future, and I happen to know exactly which one....more
“There’s never been anyone like her before. Nor will there be again.”
Who cried their way through the ending? Mee, I did!!
I was panicking during the l“There’s never been anyone like her before. Nor will there be again.”
Who cried their way through the ending? Mee, I did!!
I was panicking during the last third, wondering how everything would go and if everyone would survive and live happily ever after...luckily, Nisha J. Tuli wrapped everything up perfectly, and I'm so happy with the way it ended. Though I wouldn't mind several more books in this series, or a spinoff, or novella.
If you've read the last book, you know who it is we meet at the start. I wasn't convinced this character had everyone's best interests at heart, lo and behold, I was right. It just took us a while to get to that point.
I didn't mind the slower pace, I was actually on the edge of my seat, waiting for that character to show their true face (no, I did not mean for this to rhyme, but hey). Once they did, the pacing picked up, we learned some interesting things and the book was hard to put down.
I love how Rabin and Zarya's relationship continued to grow, despite everything that was thrown at them. And how Rabin was STILL determined to make things right, even if all was good, he was like "NO!!! I WILL DO THIS!!", he's so precious.
The two of them are goals, honestly, they only get stronger and they do it TOGETHER which is the most important thing. They're among my favourite book couples.
Speaking of couples, we got to see more of Yasen and Miraan. I loved following them while Zarya and Rabin were ~elsewhere~. They're so cute together, and Miraan helps Yasen deal with some of his own issues. If we do get a novella in the future, it would be amazing if it followed them.
Yasen is still my favourite character in the whole series, not that I was expecting it to change, I'm just letting everyone know that he's the best. And funniest. Big thank you to Nisha for writing him!!!
I'm glad Row got a chance to shine, he deserved it probably more than anyone. And he managed to get justice for another character while doing it, win win.
His bond with Zarya broke my heart and put it back together again, all in this book. There's one line where he calls her his daughter that had me sobbing, I wish it had always been like that for them, they've come so far.
Of course, the battle scenes were epic, as expected. The plot development was excellent, and like I already said, the ending was perfect, but I did get the impression that the book was a bit rushed.
It didn't feel quite the same as the past few books, but it also didn't feel dramatically different. It was still such a great read, but books 2 and 3 are definitely my favourites in the series.
I don't want to say goodbye to Rabin, Zarya and their friends, I really don't, I know I'm going to miss them so much. I hope we'll see them again, or that Nisha will write a similar series so I can fall in love with her characters all over again.
4.5
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
“If you trusted me to hold you while you slept , it would be the greatest honor of my life.”
First thing's first, Carys finally chooses between Duncan“If you trusted me to hold you while you slept , it would be the greatest honor of my life.”
First thing's first, Carys finally chooses between Duncan and Lachlan, and she chooses CORRECTLY. Never doubted you, Carys, I knew you'd make the right choice. My life = made.
But waiting for her to get to that point was agonising (in a good way), the tension between the two of them has been building since book one, and it only increased it book two. The steam factor did too, in case anyone was wondering.
So, The Shadow Path picks up almost where First Light left off, except it's been several months since we last saw our beloved characters. Now they have to return to the Shadowlands for something seemingly routine, which turns out to be anything but.
Just as I was obsessed with the first book, I'm enthralled by this one. There's something so addictive about Elizabeth Hunter's writing that keeps you wanting to read more and more until you've finished the whole book.
And then you're left screaming because of the cliffhanger, naturally. And to think I was convinced we'd get a somewhat peaceful ending...
I'm really exited about book three, some pieces were taken off the board, but some were added as well. I'm anticipating the final battle will be the greatest one yet.
I loved how Carys handled the one we got here, that was so smart of her (and the extra help, lest we forget). I know she doesn't want to be a queen, but, like a certain someone said, maybe that's why she should be.
She and the others grow as characters in each chapter, and the world grows with them. I will never get tired of all the details, or the mythology. If you thought the Shadowlands couldn't get any more intriguing, think again.
We also have a little side romance between Carys's best friend and a wonderful dragon we all know and love, as well as Dru and someone I won't spoil. But I also caught some ~vibes~ from a character we're just getting to know, so I'm not totally sure how that will go, but I'm along for the ride.
So many questions were answered, and I feel like I have a clearer picture of how Carys came to be now, but there's still so much left to uncover.
I started crying when she was talking to Leuca (one of the best characters, by the way) about her mother and horses, because I associate my own mother with horses too. I love how much they're featured throughout this book, the author couldn't have picked a better animal and Goddess to represent.
Speaking of Goddesses, one of my absolute faves to read about made an appearance, or perhaps she was always there...DUN DUN DUN. I have to admit that I didn't guess it, despite the signs, until Carys put two and two together, I kinda love the chaos she's causing though.
The Shadow Path was a proper sequel, not a filler book, but even if it was the latter, I know I would've enjoyed it anyway. It sets things up nicely for book three, while still wrapping up a few important bits. All in all, it was perfect, and, considering Elizabeth Hunter's track record, Broken Veil will be too.
*Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Blood of Ancients started off a bit slow, and I was wondering if it was going to be more of a filler book, but it picked up around the middle and the Blood of Ancients started off a bit slow, and I was wondering if it was going to be more of a filler book, but it picked up around the middle and the plot was plotting folks!!
Do you guys remember what I said about Ravinica's origins in my last review, the guess I had? Well, I was wrong. But, we found out exactly what she is now, and how it all came to be and I'm very satisfied with the answers.
We also got to learn more about a certain mate's past, 100% did not see that coming. I'm glad the gang has another person on their team now, and one who's pretty cool to boot.
I actually didn't pay as much attention to that character previously, but they really grew on me during the course of the book. If anything happens to them in the next one, I fear I may cry.
ALSO, loved that Shadowblade Academy shout out. So then they *ARE* in the same world? Excuse me while I go get ready for a crossover. I'm kidding, but I like knowing it's a possibility.
I am now thinking back to the series, wondering if there were any clues even back then...
Anyway, my absolute favourite parts of this book were set on the other side of the portal (oh yes, they went there). I too would like to visit a spring-hold, thanks.
The way that realm was described sounds so magical, I'd love to live there. Preferably in the forest though, something tells me the elves who dwell there are the coolest.
That was also where Ravinica changed, in so many ways. I'm a lil obsessed with the Folkvang scene/chapter, IT WAS SO PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL, literally my fav in the whole book, and such a fitting end for that character.
Speaking of endings, when those rumbles started and Ravinica was like "oh I thought nothing of it" I was like I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS!!! And boy, was I right! I can't wait to see how they'll deal with this threat, and then hopefully bring peace to all the realms?
No but, I was hoping these specific creatures would make an appearance sooner or later, so I'm STOKED we're finally getting to see them.
LASTLY, I do forgive Arne. Kinda, sorta, a lil bit. I'm anticipating I will have fully forgiven him by the time book four is out.
Oh, and we still don't like Eirik, just throwing that in there for good measure.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
I know this is a duology, but hear me out, five books? Four books? I'll even settle for three PLEASE I NEED MORE!!!
I had an arc of book one and loved I know this is a duology, but hear me out, five books? Four books? I'll even settle for three PLEASE I NEED MORE!!!
I had an arc of book one and loved it to bits, but this release went a bit off the radar for me, so I was really exited when I saw it was finally out.
It's such a brilliant sequel, I can't say which book I love more. While the first focused on Cass trying to find herself, this one really leaned into her embracing her destiny. AND, we got to see (and meet) Arthur, Merlin and the Knights too.
The dreamy writing style is still present and perfect for the story, I'd like to go back to this dream again and again thanks!!
I just adore the way this was written, the choices made relating to each character, in which light to paint them, and the huge emphasis on women being forgotten throughout history no matter how grand their contributions.
Cass grew so much during her journey, and I'm so glad I got to know her and the rest of the women. They'll continue living in my head rent free forevermore....more
"He would have done anything for her in that moment. Torn apart mountains and worlds. Climbed to the moon if she asked. She was his purpose. His desti"He would have done anything for her in that moment. Torn apart mountains and worlds. Climbed to the moon if she asked. She was his purpose. His destiny."
OH HOW WE'VE BEEN FED IN THIS ONE!!
We got the most relationship development by far in Storm of Ink and Blood, Zarya and Rabin went from her not trusting him, to slowly rebuilding that trust, to being lovers (again), to something even more and then something I wasn't expecting, but it makes perfect sense for them.
Rabin isn't hiding his feelings for Zarya AT ALL, he's completely devoted to her, mind body and soul. It's so refreshing to see.
Like, if anyone went to the school of grovelling, Rabin did. He really made up for his mistakes. Which is not to say that I think their decision to go where they're gonna go at the end of the book is correct, by the way, just putting that out there.
Also, I love how, for him, there was no one else while they were apart, it just proves he's so down bad for her. He's come a looong way from the start of the series and he's almost (but not quite) sharing Yasen's spot on my faves list.
Zarya meanwhile, developed her powers and is so much more confident using them. I also like how Rabin doesn't just encourage her, but helps her along the way (in more ways than one).
I love that she's finally properly embracing her destiny, and that we're taking this journey with her step by step. I may or may not have cried as the prophecy was coming true.
And Yasen, my fav fav favvvvv character, the apple of my eye, my sugar plum, sweetie pie, HAS FOUND A SPECIAL SOMEONE, WE CHEER!!! I wasn't expecting it, but the pairing is perfect.
In every single book, Yasen's friendship with Zarya is the highlight of my reading experience and this one is no different, the way they joke around and care for each other warms my heart.
Because of everything that happened here, I'm expecting an epic battle in the final book, and I'm already telling you, I don't trust You Know Who. Absolutely not. I'm open to being proven wrong, but...we'll see.
And you know, it's not just this series that keeps getting better, but Nisha J. Tuli's writing also. With every single book, she blows me away. This series is now my favourite by her, and if you know me, then you know Cursed Captors, more specifically Wicked is the Reaper, was hard to beat. AND YET.
So if you haven't started The Nightfire Quartet yet, please do. The final book will be out before you know it, and until then, you can enjoy the lovely cliffhanger Nisha left us with.
P. S. That glossary at the beginning? So funny!
P. P. S. I'm really hoping that one line about x character being the death of a different character was just a figure of speech and not foreshadowing.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
YES so, I was so excited to jump back into this because of the way the first book ended. If you haven't read book one then please go back and do so beYES so, I was so excited to jump back into this because of the way the first book ended. If you haven't read book one then please go back and do so before reading my review because I will be mentioning some stuff that happened at the end, okay? Okay.
As we all know, Ravinica's powers finally came in, three cheers for her and for Corym who made the whole thing possible!!! Ahem. The first third-ish of the book is spent on her learning how to use them and him teaching her. Not gonna lie, I could read about them training all day and never get bored.
Meanwhile, Grim, Magnus, Sven and the-one-I-still-haven't-forgiven (Arne), are searching for her. I felt their pain at being away from her, I really did. But worry not, they do find her, and all is well. For about five seconds.
It was nice to see her thriving once she got back to Vikingrune, and passing her exams with flying colours too. But of course, all is not as it appears.
How do I say this without spoiling...we learned that someone is related to someone else who is in turn related to a very important person which I actually thought might happen, but not exactly like that. I really want to see it explored more in the next book. Also, the fact that this happened AFTER the visit is criminal, I want my questions answered!!
We also learned that Ravinica might have more to her than everyone originally thought. Now I wanna know what that is AGH. I have some guesses, watch none of them be correct.
There's also the issue of trying to convince people that elves aren't actually the bad guys, but is it falling on deaf ears or are tides starting to turn? We'll have to wait and see.
Now, let's talk about Arne's grovelling. I require more!! That is not enough! But it's a start for sure. I know Ravinica's forgiven him, and okay I do feel a little bad for him because of that thing near the end, but hey, karma. He's still at the bottom of my list.
Sven may have carved himself a permanent spot right next Corym..I have no explanation, it just happened. The rest of the list is the same as it was before.
The ending was another cliffhanger, and I was honestly sitting there thinking it wouldn't be as bad, but then that character appeared and well...when is book three coming KC??
P. S. Eirik is still useless in case anyone was wondering. I'd name him the worst brother, but Ravinica does have one that's undoubtedly worse soooo second worst it is.
*Thank you to the amazing author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
“Dread the day you meet a north wolf for they love war.”
WOW, JUST WOW!!!! I'm in complete awe at this book, which happens to be my first read by Eliza“Dread the day you meet a north wolf for they love war.”
WOW, JUST WOW!!!! I'm in complete awe at this book, which happens to be my first read by Elizabeth Hunter, and I see now that I've seriously been missing out. First Light was perfection, chef's kiss, instantly going on my ultimate favourite books shelf.
This story is exactly what I'd want to happen to me (minus my partner going poof and me having to travel across the world to find them thing), I want to wander into a portal and enter a world where unicorns, fae, dragons, kelpies and brownies roam, where magic is around every corner, and the forest is alive and has a mind of its own.
It has such a unique feeling, I can't compare it to any other book I've read before. The lore of this world is so rich and well-developed, I was instantly pulled in, needing to know more.
I had so many theories about Carys and who/what she was, my mind was like "she's x, no wait she's y, no no she's z" and eventually I'd guess it like a moment before it happened, it really kept me on my toes!
I have some thoughts about her family as well, I can't wait to be completely wrong and mind-blown in the sequel, hah.
I like that she didn't immediately learn everything there is to know about the Shadowlands, and start training, gaining powers etc, she's doing it all slowly while trying to solve a mystery.
She's also figuring out her feelings towards Lachlan (who left her to go back to his own realm, ahem ahem) and his human twin Duncan (the best option, if you ask me).
Now I knew I'd be team Duncan the second he held her hand the first time, and with the way he always put her first and protected her afterwards, THAT'S YOUR MAN RIGHT THERE CARYS!!!
I'm obsessed with the characters, okay, obsessed. I love Carys, I love Duncan, I love Cadell, I love Dafydd, I love Naida, I love Dru, I love Azar, I love Darius...you get the point. I like Lachlan, as long as he isn't endgame, we're good!!
First Light made me smile, laugh, cry, I even audibly gasped at one scene which I don't recall ever happening with other books. I was literally there living every single moment, you can't convince me otherwise.
The writing is beautiful, the descriptions vivid, the pacing is perfect, there's not a single thing I'd change. Except the second book being out today so I could immediately jump in.
The ending left me with so many more questions, I was ready to scream, in a good way though. I literally CANNOT wait till April, GIVE ME BOOK TWO NOW!!!!
*Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Me, when we met Arne and Grim: woof Me, when we met Sven and Magnus: woof woof Me, when we met Corym: WOOF WOOF BARK BARK GRRR
Yes, I clearly have a favoMe, when we met Arne and Grim: woof Me, when we met Sven and Magnus: woof woof Me, when we met Corym: WOOF WOOF BARK BARK GRRR
Yes, I clearly have a favourite, I will not apologise!!
Throughout the book, I actually had a feeling like something or someONE was missing, then Corym showed up and all was right with the world. Yay!!! I'm glad we got someone who's more similar to Ravinica added as a potential love interest, he'd probably understand her the best out of anyone. Also, he's hot.
Speaking of Ravinica, I've been swallowing the first "i" in her name and reading it as Ravnica this whole time. Ravnica means plain/flat land in my language, and I fear I'll never be able to unsee it.
She's a cool character though, one who doesn't deserve all the insults and beatings she got, my poor baby. Every time someone would try her AGAIN, my blood would boil. Just leave her alone!! She did nothing wrong!!
It was so satisfying, seeing one of her bullies get what was coming to them. I wasn't expecting the full extent of it though, at least not in the first book.
There are people who show her kindness, other than the men of course, but it's mostly her two friends, Randi and Dagny. The three of them are giving Totally Spies, I love their trio so much (even if Randi's taste in men is questionable).
Ravinica's brother Eirik on the other hand...USELESS. I liked him at first, but as soon as he got her to the academy and left her to figure things out on her own it was over. Every time she's in danger, you know who comes to her rescue (if she can't handle it herself)? NOT Eirik. Hmph.
Okay, now ~the men~. Obviously, pretty, nicely eared (yes, that's a hint) Corym is on top of my pyramid, even if we only saw him in a few chapters. I'm biased, you can't blame me.
I can't really choose between Magnus and Sven because they're both my type, so I'll have to wait and see which way I lean in the next books. It was Magnus for a good bit there, but Sven, with his change of heart at the end...I DONT KNOW.
Grim is for sure above Arne, he was even before Arne did you know what (I'm gonna need to see extreme amounts of grovelling to make up for it). He's like a cute cuddly teddy bear, but literally. I love how protective he is, a real sweetheart. I do also need to see him in full rage mode, please.
And Arne...listen, as of right now, I do not care for him whatsoever. I'm mad. Even if what he did directly led to Ravinica meeting Corym, I'm not ready to forgive him.
Plot wise, Vikingrune Academy was very entertaining. Even though KC has written different academy series before, each one feels fresh and different. This one probably more so since it seems to be set in a different world from the others. The Norse mythology is naturally a bonus.
AND THE ENDING!??? I'm silently screaming, HOW DARE YOU LEAVE US ON SUCH A CLIFFHANGER KC????? Those final lines had me SHOOK.
I badly want to know more about the Arne situation, and if Ravinica will ever find out about the other side of her heritage, or meet her father. Elves are long-lived so mayhaps?
You know what I didn't see coming? That twist when she was finishing the family trees. In retrospect it seems like an obvious thing, but at the time my gasts were flabbered.
I cannot wait until the next book, I GOTTA KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT!!! GAH.
*Thank you to the amazing author who provided me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
One thing about Jelena Dunato, she will put her whole soul into a story, even if it's a 100-something page novella.
I went into this expecting the moonOne thing about Jelena Dunato, she will put her whole soul into a story, even if it's a 100-something page novella.
I went into this expecting the moon and the stars, and Dunato delivered!!! It's a prequel novella, so you could start with it, if you want, though I'd suggest you read Dark Woods, Deep Water first for an even bigger treat.
Both books are similar, happening in the same world with some overlapping characters, but Orsiana's story is still very unique, and not quite as dark as the main book.
What I absolutely love about it though, is how the Balkan influence pops out. The way the characters behave/speak, the story structure, the Gods' gifts, it's giving "Čardak ni na nebu ni na zemlji" or literally any local fairytale from my childhood. I love it so much. Dunato managed to capture the feel of these stories so well.
WHICH REMINDS ME, in the future I need to see this lovely story, along with Dark Woods, Deep Water, illustrated in the style of those childhood fairytales, because that's what it deserves!! If I ever have/adopt kids, they will be getting this as a bedtime story, I'm so serious.
So yes, Ghost Apparent left a lasting impression on me, and much of that is due to the enchanting writing (which I have praised before, and will time and time again!). I've been transported into a magical world that I never want to leave. I need Orsiana to keep me in a snow globe and carry me around with her so I can see all the things, please and thank you.
No but, honestly, Dunato's writing is one of my absolute favourites, she could write a grocery list and I'd be like "this is art". The world she developed is so close to my heart, it feels like home.
The story flowed so well, I have zero complaints, except that I wish it was even longer. The plot was extremely engaging, I didn't want to stop reading for a second.
There was SO MUCH character development for such a short read, I loved learning more about Orsiana's past, and watching her grow up and fall in love and become the best queen all while getting revenge, so proud of my girl. The romance crumbs we got made me wish the book was longer too, because they had a lot of chemistry.
Of course, the Slavic mythology is always welcome too, you already know I get happy when I see our old Gods on page, and here we got four, woohoo!!! Their portrayal was accurate, if you ask me.
Also, I gotta give credit to Orsiana's father, for opening up his library and letting his daughter read whatever she wanted, telling her that if something disturbs her, she should come to him and they can discuss it. That's good parenting right there.
Now, I will not-so-subtly ask for more books set in Abia, I need more of this world like I need air. Please give us more stories!!!!!!!!
If you haven't picked up any of Jelena Dunato's books yet, now is a good time to start. And by now, I do mean RIGHT NOW. Go buy her books!!!
*Huge thank you to the amazing author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
It's been like 80 years y'all and the sequel is finally here, hurray!!!! I couldn't wait to get back into this world. Mr Kontaxis pleasantly surprisedIt's been like 80 years y'all and the sequel is finally here, hurray!!!! I couldn't wait to get back into this world. Mr Kontaxis pleasantly surprised me by having a "previously on" type of segment to remind us what happened in the first book, which was very much needed. There's also a character list, like in book one. I didn't have to flip back and forth this time either. THERE'S ALSO ART INSIDE (near the end)!
The Fall of the Giants is a slower novel when compared to The Return of the Knights. That, in combination with May Day and Easter holidays, meant it took me a bit longer to read than it normally would have. But even with a slower pace it was still entertaining.
The gang all went their separate ways, which HURT, not gonna lie. I wanted to see them back together ASAP. But they all had things that needed doing so I get it. We got to follow each of them on their journeys, but the main focus was on Elliot and Walter (and Reynald).
Elliot had the biggest character development out of everyone, he got more mature as he trained and tried to free the Elder Races...I'm so proud of my boy. He's really becoming a true warrior. I may or may not have shed a tear during that scene with Thindor.
You know what I also cried at? Certain characters making their way to the realms of the dead. It's not like I wasn't expecting anyone to die, but the characters that did...even if they weren't my ultimate faves I was still attached to them.
I still love Walter, despite all his evil deeds. He's such an interesting character to follow and I can now firmly say that I'm hoping he makes it to the very end of the series (with John Long Arm too, don't worry I haven't forgotten him).
Reynald took me by surprise, I wasn't expecting to like him, but he really grew on me over the course of the book. I'm glad he got so many PoVs.
I also enjoyed getting to know the world better. The first half or so of the book had a lot of new lore to greet us with, we were learning it along with Elliot.
The pace really picked up in the last third, and especially at the end. We finally got to see some action and amazing battle scenes!! The very last page had me going DUN DUN DUN, it was literally the embodiment of that, please tell me you agree.
And now I once again can't wait for the next book. I have to know what's going to happen next, how they're going to fight Walter with the newest developments, who's going to survive and who's going to meet their end. If someone could fast forward to book three's release that'd be great.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
This was a very heavy read, I had to take several breaks while reading for that reason. I'm also not sure how to rate it, because overall I think it wThis was a very heavy read, I had to take several breaks while reading for that reason. I'm also not sure how to rate it, because overall I think it was a good read, but at the same time I didn't really need to read from the PoV of a rapist as he's committing the rapes in great detail...and he's one of the main characters.
Also, I'm pretty sure this book gave me the nightmare I had last night when I was reading it before bed, so it has that going for it too.
But yeah trigger warnings for SA, CSA & domestic violence in particular, please please please be mindful of that going in and stop whenever you need to! There's also themes of grief, dealing with losing a parent, addiction, trauma...and we can't forget homophobia either (but if it makes you feel better, the homophobic character learns to accept the lgbt character eventually).
As far as characters go, I think that's where this book shines. Other than the serial assaulter *cough* John *cough*, everyone seemed like a real person with real problems. It was so easy to jump into their lives and care about them.
I also really liked the writing and the mythology woven in, the Cree language as well. If only I'd been smart enough to get the audiobook I could've listened to the author pronouncing all of that! Silly me. Next time though (I could just skip John's chapters then, save my sanity the second time around).
This is the first indigenous book I've read this year, I'm planning on doing at least 20, maybe even 36 (the numbers aren't random, that's just some Storygraph challenges I found so I figured it was easier to keep track of them that way), so while this probably would've been left for later in the year had I known how heavy it was, I'm still glad I gave it a chance....more
I finally finished this!! I didn't click with it the way some of my friends have (if you ask me, I still think The Faithful and the Fallen is the supeI finally finished this!! I didn't click with it the way some of my friends have (if you ask me, I still think The Faithful and the Fallen is the superior series), and I can't say I loved this book, but it was alright.
The found family aspect was the strongest in this one out of the three, with characters coming together to fight a common enemy.
Now, the main things I didn't like about The Fury of the Gods, were the abundant battle scenes.
YES I KNOW, I KNOW, but they kept me from being excited to continue the story, because there were just so many, and they went on forever, described in great detail. And don't get me wrong, they *are* well-written and everything, but I felt as if this book was just one continuous battle scene with a few water breaks in between.
That is fine, it's simply not my favourite thing to read about.
I would've liked to have had Lif's PoV, he really grew on me as a character. I loved seeing him come into his own as a warrior, and I'm glad he got his deserved revenge and happy ending.
A surprising number of characters got to live actually, I'm not mad at that whatsoever, I was just expecting John Gwynne to try and give us all lasting emotional damage.
Speaking of, I cried at the end, and during the acknowledgements. The scenes where everyone got to avenge their fallen were the most precious to me, THAT is why I read this series.
I've seen a few people mention that maybe there will be a sequel series, because it was almost set up that way, and I would read it, but I don't think even that would beat his other series for me. Still, I'm glad I read it, here's to more adventures!...more
HOLD UP, THE FINAL MATE GAMES SERIES ISN'T COMING TILL 2025??? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS??? WAHHHHHHH. I'm already going through withdrawal. HopefuHOLD UP, THE FINAL MATE GAMES SERIES ISN'T COMING TILL 2025??? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS??? WAHHHHHHH. I'm already going through withdrawal. Hopefully there's something else in store for us while we wait (I have no hints, I'm just throwing that out there hoping it sticks).
OKAY SO, the ending was the most perfect ending x100, the epilogues were just so sweet and funny, I loved seeing cameos from other characters yet again (my favourite couple in the whole universe included, if you know you know). And THAT BONUS SCENE!!! STOP MY HEART CAN'T TAKE THE CUTENESS!!!!!!!
I've been holding off on reading the bonus scenes, because I figured it would be fun to read all of them at the end of the series and I JUST...WHO'S CRYING? ME? YES. That little puppy really is the goodest boy. Can't believe we got a crossover there too, mind blown in the best way.
All of those epilogues/bonuses had me smiling from ear to ear, the bloopers too. Now I fear I'll require bloopers after all the audiobooks I listen to, I've been so spoiled.
Plot wise, this is the closest we've gotten to an actual apocalypse, and I gotta tell miss ma'am Death what a good job she did!! So many twists I didn't see coming. I'm (almost) sad she lost? Like, she put so much effort into this, only for her plans to be foiled. Poor Death, let me give you a hug. She's my favourite villain in the series so far, even though the guys are technically villains too, but you know what I mean.
Speaking of resident hot villains, dear ol' Captain Hook had me laughing out loud yet again. His good mood is really contagious, I swear it made my headache better. If I said that he's my favourite Mate Games character ever, would the others be mad at me? HOPEFULLY NOT, THERE'S ENOUGH LOVE TO GO AROUND!! I just think Kim & Meg struck gold with Caspian, and I would not be opposed to more pirate characters in the future.
OH! Gotta mention this so I don't forget, that *IMPROVED* J. M. Barrie quote at the start really got me. I was giggling from the get go.
Now for the other three gents, are we ready? Yes? I know I always do a final ranking type of thing but...I don't know how to rank them this time. I love Tor, Kai and Cain/Hades equally. So I'll just say that I love how much they developed over the series, how close they got to each other and how all of Dahlia's men now function like a well oiled machine. They're still jealous from time to time, but they can properly share.
Also, I find it very fitting that Kai got to do the thing first. You'll know which thing when you get to it, hah.
Dahlia, meanwhile, finally came into her own, mastered her powers (for the most part), and became truly free with expressing her desires, that's my girl!! I love her so much, she's living the dream.
I don't remember if I ever mentioned Kiki in my reviews? Maybe, possibly? Either way, she was simply fabulous in this one. She's a true friend and would go to hell and back for Dahlia, quite literally. She had a bigger role here than in the past books which was honestly deserved.
We got a little sneak peak into the next series, I was wondering where that storyline was going and I'm glad we finally have an answer. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long to see it.
Lastly, stellar performance by all the narrators as always, these books and their narration make life worth living.
P. S. If you still haven't started this brilliant series, I'm judging you.
*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
'“Be careful. If anything happens to you now, I won’t survive it.” Then, he reeled her in for a fierce, bruising kiss.'
I'm so happy we didn't have to '“Be careful. If anything happens to you now, I won’t survive it.” Then, he reeled her in for a fierce, bruising kiss.'
I'm so happy we didn't have to wait a full year (or even a full 6 months) for this book, hopefully the next one will be out just as fast because the level of ANGST I'm in after that ending...I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG OKAY.
This was even better than book one, even more fast paced and, the one thing everyone's been waiting for, I'm sure, steamier!!! Or technically speaking, the steam *starts* in this one, but I have no doubt we'll get loads more of it to come. Nobody ever say you can't learn anything from romance books, Zarya sure did. You'll have to read and find out what it is though.
So yes the romance was definitely romancing, the tension was perfect, I had some squeely giggly moments and highlighted a bunch of lines. I'm veeery satisfied with what we got.
There is, of course, a conflict which is a twist in itself and I can't even be mad about it because it was well explained. But listen, if I have to go one more book without these two firmly being together by the end I am going to go insane!!! LET THEM BE HAPPY.
Plot wise we got action, several battle scenes and some answers about Zarya's parents. I love the vanshaj storyline the most, I can't predict how that's going to go down, but I'm excited to see it.
I like that we (seemingly) got to see a portion of the plot tied up, so now they can move on to other issues.
All the characters grew, but as before Yasen, Zarya and Rabin are my absolute faves. I am developing a bit of a soft spot for Row too.
I wasn't going to comment on Vikram because he's kind of irrelevant (it's clear he won't be endgame), but there was a scene where we got to see a different, not so good side of him that's making me wonder if he'll turn into a villain in the next two books...I hope I'm wrong.
Also, be prepared to shed a tear or two, because near the end there's moments where we don't know if some characters survived or not, and sadly some didn't. I'm not telling you who though so don't ask!!
4.5
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
"I might not mind oblivion, if you were the one to deliver it."
I think the right word to describe this book would be enchanting, which is exactly what"I might not mind oblivion, if you were the one to deliver it."
I think the right word to describe this book would be enchanting, which is exactly what a retelling should be. I was sucked into the story instantly, and DEVOURED most of it in one day. If I wasn't sick & with a fever I would've finished the whole thing in one go, trust me. It really is that addicting.
Even the "filler-y" chapters where Fia and Rogan weren't doing much until the next full moon were interesting to me. One of the main reasons why is Corra, who was my favourite character. They were so adorable and funny, I'm hoping we'll get to see more of them in the sequel.
As a fan of love triangles I was fed well, both love interests were likable, though clues were given as to why one of them wasn't right for her throughout the book and I wholeheartedly agree.
I even had a bit of an internal struggle where I wanted Fia to be with him for a bit, even though I preferred the other love interest, but at the same time was like "no no don't do that don't hurt the other one!!!".
Strangely enough, there was no typical jealousy. As in, the two love interests didn't interact, and they did occasionally make comments about one another, but when they were with Fia it was just about them in the moment (or, in the case of Rogan, about Eala who makes this into a love square).
Overall it was handled well, which surprised me.
Now, as much as I loved Irian, I wish we got a bit more time with him, getting to know him and seeing him and Fia fall for each other. Yes, he had the best lines in the book after Corra and I highlighted a bunch of them, but I wasn't completely sold on the love front.
This ties into something slightly illogical in the plot, basically they can only cross over during a full moon, but I didn't get why they didn't just stay for a few months. Rogan okay human, but Fia could've stayed during her "seduction" mission quite comfortably. That would've made the relationship more believable.
Because basically they saw each other a dozen times, not even full days, just nights...and they are in devastatingly crushing love with each other by the end of it. But, for minimum half of those times, Fia was still in love with Rogan and didn't fully open her heart up to Irian and it just didn't seem fair, you know.
I can maybe believe that he is in love with her, but not the other way around (yet).
As for the rest of the story/plot, I wouldn't call this unpredictable (except for the ending), you can tell where it's going to go most of the time, but it's still a very fun and enjoyable read. It also had something that made it feel fresh. Like, yes, definitely a romantasy, but not completely typical?
Which brings me to the comps, I can't really say if it's like The Cruel Prince since I haven't read it, but I can maybe see a little bit of For the Wolf in it, though if you ask me this is much better than that book. If anything this is most similar to These Hollow Vows, but even then it has its own uniqueness that no other comps come to mind.
You can tell the author did her research for the worldbuilding and did it well. There's a glossary at the back (maybe it'll be moved to the front for the published copy?), but I felt like the terms used were explained properly in the text so I didn't need to reference it.
WHICH REMINDS ME! Okay, so you know how in every book the love interest has a nickname for the main character? Mhm, here it's...colleen.
There's nothing wrong with colleen, and it's actually kind of cute that he came up with that based on what she said at their first meeting, but I am so sorry, every time Irian said it, I would picture Colleen Hoover in my brain and the moment wouldn't be as romantic as it was supposed to be.
Anyway, the ending was great, I couldn't have hoped for a better one. It wrapped the most important things up, and if you wanted to stop reading at this book you totally could. I'm absolutely reading the sequel though, and really excited for it.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
One of the best books of the year (and decade) so far for sure! I'm in awe at the world and characters O.O. Sangoyomi has created. This book was everyOne of the best books of the year (and decade) so far for sure! I'm in awe at the world and characters O.O. Sangoyomi has created. This book was everything I was hoping it would be, and yet it still managed to surprise me at every turn. I really love it to bits.
I know it's been promoted as a Hades x Persephone story, and while I can see it here and there, it's not a huge part of the book. So if anyone thinks "oh this is just another retelling" STOP RIGHT NOW!! It's not, it's so much better. PLEASE GIVE IT A CHANCE, IT'LL BLOW YOU AWAY!
It's also not much of a fantasy, so I hope anyone won't be disappointed going into this thinking that it is. It's more along the lines of historical fiction, but even if you mainly read fantasy I think you could still have a really good time with Masquerade.
The world is so vivid and easy to imagine, the beautiful writing contributes to this. I often felt like I was inside the book myself, walking or attending lessons with Òdòdó, running and collecting gossip with the twins, marching into battle, checking out the stables, attending meetings with the generals...
Naturally, I loved being in Òdòdó’s head as well, the whole book is told from her PoV, which was actually refreshing. I know someone probably would've preferred to have, for example, Dígí's PoV or even the Aláàfin's, but for me hers was more than enough.
Masquerade was really easy to get into, I was hooked from the very first page and loved the whole storyline, especially the ending.
THE ENDING!!! I was not expecting it to go that way, but I'm so glad it did. This is actually how I was hoping The Wrath and the Dawn would end, but it didn't, so I finally got my wish in the form of a different and better book. Yayyyy!!! No one is happier than I am in this moment.
I'd also love to see a sequel. Though, this book does stand on its own very well. I feel like, with the themes explored here, the next book could be even more exiting, so fingers crossed we get one.
As for the romance...listen...I like me a little toxic romance here and there, and I did ship them, but there was someone near the end I shipped Òdòdó with even more, WHICH I WILL NOT BE CONFESSING!! Mayhaps if we get another book, I will.
I loved how the Aláàfin picked Òdòdó out, and how much he seemed to genuinely love her, the many gifts he gave her etc. But at the same time he could be controlling, not allowing her to have any contact with her past life, not wanting her to have any political positions because why would she need them...so it's a complicated relationship for sure.
One of my favourite things is that, despite the control of everyone around her, Òdòdó still managed to find her power. And I will support her no matter what.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more